Cayuse Prairie residents who haven't yet voted in the school district's bond election still have a few hours to do so.

Ballots in Cayuse Prairie's $1.95 million bond election must be returned to the school office by 8 p.m. today.

That means voters who didn't mail their ballots to the district must drop them off at the school; ballots postmarked today that don't make it to the school by the deadline won't count in the election.

The district mailed more than 1,400 ballots to its registered voters on Oct. 20, district clerk Heather Mumby said. As of Monday afternoon, about 700 ballots had been turned in.

There is no minimum voter turnout in a mail-in election, which is one reason many school districts use them for bond issues.

If voters approve Cayuse Prairie's request, bonds will be sold to build a new, 7,818-square-foot gym and performing arts center, which would be available for community use. Bond money also would be used to build restrooms in the lower elementary grades' hallway and additional parking around the new gym.

Any leftover money would be used to build classrooms in preparation for future development in the district.

The proposed new gym has been criticized by some as an unnecessary expense, particularly in light of the economy. But proponents say a new gym in necessary because current gym space is inadequate and unsafe.

If voters approve the bond request, annual property taxes on a home with a taxable market value of $100,000 would increase by about $54. Taxes on a house with a $200,000 taxable value would go up by about $107 a year.

This is the first bond election Cayuse Prairie has run since voters approved a $525,000 request in 1994. That money built the school's north wing, which houses upper elementary classrooms.

The school board decided to run this bond election when the district qualified for a Qualified School Construction Bond grant, one-time-only stimulus money available through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The grant, which offers 0 to 1 percent interest on the bonds, could save the district almost $1.2 million over 15 years.

If voters approve the bond issue, the district would open the project for bid in early 2010 and probably break ground at the end of the school year, Principal Rick Nadeau told the Inter Lake in September. Construction likely would take about a year.

For more information about the election, call the school at 756-4560.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com